Back in 2006 in the Champions League, the 35-year-old former center-back visited the legendary Madrid stadium with the Gunners and was overcome by stage fright before the game, as he recalled in the latest episode of Arsenal’s podcast ‘In Lockdown.
“My father is Spanish, from very close to Madrid so he followed Real Madrid all his life as I grew up, I’ve always looked at Real Madrid as an awesome team and a team I’d love to play for in the future,” Senderos said.
“That day, that day at the Bernabéu, was the day I was the most anxious of all my life. I recall throwing up on the field before the game right before the ref blew because I was finally living my dream, but the environment and the setting were really overwhelming.”
“The Real Madrid game, away with an outstanding goal from Henry-that game was one of my greatest memories in an Arsenal shirt for me and on a football pitch in general,” Senderos said.
He added: “Playing for Arsenal at the Bernabéu against Real Madrid that was my dream as a child. I wanted to do that in my life and I actually lived it so that’s one of my best memories on a soccer field.”
“He was having panic attacks. I knew Philippe Senderos and you could see that he was sweating, that he wasn’t feeling well before a game he wanted to chat a lot, “retired defender Gallas recalled.
“It was particularly against certain players that this happened. I saw him against Chelsea, against Drogba, against whom he really was afraid to play. It was like faced with his own match before he actually played it.
